Wire-rolling mill



July 10, 1945. c. L. PATTERSON WIRE-ROLLING MILL 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed April 26, 1944 R .ww m B a Q 3 1 3. uw E 1 Mm WWW 1 I l Hi! II z k P A g w v w M Q m m 0 \K m H m M m m r M m 7 w E I- E V. B 8 M 6 N in Patented July 10, 1945 2,880,067 WIRE-ROLLING MILL chemi- Leroy Patterson, Jackson Heights, N. 1., asaignor to Aircraft Screw Products Company, Inc., Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 26, 1944, Serial No. 582,895 Claims. (01. 80-411) The invention relates to a machine for shaping the cross-section of a wire with the aid of a pair of rollers rotatable about parallel axes and tangent to eachother, which are so peripherally grooved that the cross-sections of the grooves complement each other to the desired cross-section of the wire. In machines of this type it has been found extremely diihcult to fix the two rollers in the exact positions relatively to each other if a high grade of accuracy of the wire cross-section is required. The invention contemplates to overcome such difficulties by a device wherein only one of the-shaping rollers may be secured in a predetermined position fixed in the direction of its axis whereasthe position of the other roller is adjustable in axial direction relatively to the first one. The invention consists in the provision of a pair of guide rollers rotatable about axes at right angles to those of the shaping rollers and bearing/against the side walls of the second shaping roller wherein the guide rollers are adjustable in a direction parallel to the axes of the shaping rollers to shift the second shaping roller relatively to the fixed roller and to hold it in an adjusted position. v

Further objects and details of the-invention will be apparent from the description given hereinafter and the accompanying drawings 11- lustrating two embodiments thereof by way of example.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a cross-section of a device according to the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a cross-section of another embodiment.v

Referring now to the drawings (Fig. 1) a stationary frame I is provided with two axially aligned bearings 2 and 3 for a shaft 4 which may be driven from a power source not shown connected to the flange 5. The shaft 4 comprises three major portions 6, I and 8 of which the portions Band 8 are supported by the bearings 2 and 3 respectively. The diameter of the portion 8 is smaller than that of the portion 8 and the middle part I is splined so that the outer circumference of the splines is not larger than thediameter of the portion 6 and the diameter of the bottoms of the spline grooves is not smaller than the diameter of the shaft portion 8. Consequently, shaft 4:1 can be assembled by axes a and b, but at right angles thereto.

roller 9 and the bearings 2 and 3 so that roller 9 is very accurately fixed in. axial direction butv free to rotate with shaft 4. A second pair of bearings I2 and I3 are arranged with their axes b-b in line and parallel to the axis 0-0 of shaft 4. Another shaft I4 is supported by the bearings I2 and I3 and secured against axial shifting and rotation by means such as pin I5 penetrating bearing I2 and the shaft I. In order to bring the shaft I4 into position, the frame I is .provided with at least one opening I6, and if so desired for sake of symmetry, with an opposite opening I! co-axial with the bearings I2 and I3. The two bearings I2 and I8- are spaced from each other and between them a second shaping roller I8 is mounted so as to be tangent with respect to roller 9. Roller i8 is freely rotatable on the shaft I4 and can also be shifted in axial direction as far as its width and the spacing c of the bearings I2 and I3 will permit. It is in the present embodiment assumed that the rollers are destined to form adiamond-shaped wire and consequently, the rollers are provided with peripheral grooves I9 and 20 respectively of triangular shape which complement each other to the diamond cross-section 2| at the point of tangency of the rollers. Now in order .to render the portion of roller I8 adjustable with respect to roller 9, a set of guide rollers 22 and 23 is provided which bear on opposite sides against the side walls of the roller I8. Rollers 22 and 23 are rotatable about axes d and e respectively in the plane defined by the They contact roller I8 very close to its periphery and near the line of tangency of the shaping roller in order to render ineffective any inaccuracy which otherwise might occur. Rollers.22 and 23 are adjustable in a direction parallel to the axes sand 2) of the shaping rollers. For that purpose a member 24 with a forked head 25 is provided for roller 22, in which a pivot pin 28 is secured by means of a cotter pin such as shifting it from the right-hand side into the .position shown in Fig. l. A shaping roller 9 is splined to the portion 1 and anti-friction thrust bearings I0 and II are arrangedbetyeen the the pivot pin so'as to rotate freely thereon between the arms of the fork. The fork 25 has an upper projection 28 engaging groove 29 of a lower projection 30 of bearing 2, so that member 24 is prevented from turning but can be shifted in relation to' bearing 2'and other sta tionary parts of the frame. The other end of the member 24 is constituted by an externally threaded shank II which engages an interiorly threaded nut member 32 rotatable in a bore 33 of the frame I. The nut bears with a flange 34 .means to adjust roller 23 are of the same nature as those described with respect to roller 22.

They are shown in Fig. 1 in side elevation rather than in cross-section and comprise parts as enumerated hereinbefore, viz., the member 24 with fork head 25 and threaded shank which engages the nut 32' with stop nut 01' on the external threading 00' of the nut 02'. Roller 20 is rotatable on the pivot pin 20' secured in the fork 25'. Now it will be clear that in the structure described the driven roller 0 is in an accurately fixed position owing to the arrangement of the ball bearings I0 and II, whereas roller I8 is shiftable in axial direction and can be adjusted and held in adjusted position by the rollers 22 and 20 which in turn are adjustable by turning 'nut members 02 and 02'. It will be clear that in this manner a very great accuracy in the shaping of the cross-section 2| can be obtained.

Now I have found that in certain cases it is advisable to-provide for the possibility of additional adjustment. This relates in particular to the possibility of a certain adjustment of the first shaping roller in an axial direction, and/or of the second shaping roller in .a direction at right angles to its axis. An embodiment showing means for such adjustments has been shown in Fig. 2. Similarly to the first embodiment, a

frame IOI comprisesthe bearings I02 and I00 for shaft I04 for the first shaping roller I00. One of the bearings I03 is provided with a bushing I00 secured thereto by means such as pin I01. The end of bushing I 00 which is directed to the roller I05 is externally threaded at I00 and a nut I00 is screwed on the threading I00. One thrust bearing H0 is arranged between roller I05 and bearing I02, whereasihe other thrust bearing III is positioned between the roller and nut I09. This arrangement is made in order to avoid any undesirable clearance which otherwise might occur between the roller and its thrust bearing. Such clearance even if minute would interfere with the accuracy of the desired wire cross-section. In the present embodiment, however, by adjusting nut I00 and then securing it by means of set screw II2, it can be obtained that a certain axial pressure is exerted from both sides against the roller I00 so that the latter will be held in a truly fixed position.

Contrary to the structure of Fig. 1, the sec and shaping roller 0 is carried by a separate frame II4. This frame comprises the bearings IIO and H0 for shaft II1 to which the roller H0 is splinedat III. In order to make asand secured thereto by means such as pin I against relative movement in any direction.

' This member I22 carries the pin I24 on which the first guide roller I20 is rotatable so as to bear against one side of the second roller H0. The corresponding forked member I20 which in a similar arrangement carries the second guide roller I21 is axially shiftable in bearing I2I but prevented from rotation by splines I20. The shank of member I20 has two threadings I20 and I00 with nuts I,0I and I02 respectively thereon so as to provide for adjustability of the roller I21. It will be noticed that in this arrangement adlustabilityof the guide roller I21 will accomplish mainly a reguiation of the pressure exerted sideways by'rollers I20 and I21 on roller lll but will not provide for a shift of roller H0 in relation to roller I00. Other means are provided for this purpose and in connection therewith also means for adjusting the axial spacing between the shafts I04 and II1. For this purpose, frame II4 has a shank-like extension at right angles to shaft II1. The end I00 of that extension is splined to a block member I04; the portion between the end I00 and the frame II4 is externally threaded at I00, and a nut I00 is screwed on that threading and bears on the top face of the block I04. The latter is guided by rails I01 and I00 which maybe of triangular shape so that the block is free to be shifted in adirection parallel to the shaft I04. As the frame extension I00 is prevented from turning relative to the block parallellism between shaft I04, shaft H1 and direction ofmovement of block I04 is insured. In order to adjust the positiongof block I04 and thus also of roller IIO relatively to the fixed roller I00, the block I04 is provided with two externally threaded boltlike extensions I00 and I which pass through holes I in the frame III. Nuts I42 are screwed on the threadings of the bolt extensions I00 and I40 and bear against the frame III. Now it will be clear that by loosening and tightening of nuts I42 a shifting of block I04 can be obtained and the adjusted position secured in order to accomplish perfect registry of the grooves I40 and I44 of the rollers I00 and H0 respectively. It will be understood that the particular CI'OSS-SCC: tion of the roller grooves are shown merely as an example and that the device according to my invention may be applied to. cross-sections of any wire. form by accordingly selecting the groove cross-section. Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiments the shafts of the fixed shaping rollers have been shown as being powerdriven by an external force. However, it will be clear that no such force is required, if the wire to be shaped is pulled through the opening formed by the grooves of the two shaping rollers aembling possible, bearing III is provided'with grooves IIO corresponding to the splines Ill:

however, it is to be understood that the shaft III is freely rotatable in bearing III as well'as in -I.I0 and that the shaft with the roller IIO thereon can move to a limited extent in axial direction. Frame II4 comprises two additional bearings I20'andl2l arranged parallel to'and between the bearings for the shafts I04 and II1.

and that in such an event rotation of both rollers will occur owing to their friction with the wire.

Having now described two embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent to thosesk illed in-the art that many alterations and modifications thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and essence of my invention,

' whichshall be limited only by the scope ,of the appended claims.

- I claim:

1. A device for rolling wire comprisinga pair of peripherally grooved rollers rotatable about parallel axes and tangent to each other, the

cross-sections of the roller grooves complement- A forked member I22 is inserted inbuuingill 1g ing eachother to the excl-section.

the axes of the first pair of rollers, said rollers of the second pair being adjustable as to their spacing from each other and adapted to bear against the side wallsof the last mentioned roller, supports for the rollers of said second pair, a structure rigidly connecting said bearings of said second roller of the first pair and said supports to each other, and being mounted on said frame, and means in engagement with said frame and said structure to adjust the position of the latter in the frame in a direction parallel to the axes of the rollers of the first pair.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, said structure including means for varying the extension of said structure in a direction parallel to the axes of the roller of said second pair to adjust the spacing of the axes of the rollers of said first pair.

3. In a device for rolling wire including a first pair of peripherally grooved rollers rotatable about parallel axes and peripherally tangent to each other, wherein one of said rollers is adjusta ble in the direction of its axis inorder to cause the roller grooves to register, the combination of a second pair of rollers rotatable about axes'in the plane of but at right angles to the axes of the first pair-of rollers, the rollers of said second pair being adapted to bear against'the side walls of the adjustable roller of the first pair, means to support said second pair of rollers so as to contact said adjustable roller of said first pair close to where the rollers of the first pair contact each other, and means to adjust the position or each roller of the second pair independently of the position of the other roller of the second pair in a direction parallel to the axes of said first pair of rollers. v

4. In a device for rolling wire including a first in a direction parallel to the axes of pair of peripherally grooved rollers rotatable about parallel axes and peripherally tangent to each other, wherein the first one of said rollers is adjustable in thedirection of its axis in order to cause the roller grooves to register, the combination of adjustable thrust bearings for said sec: ond roller to insure its immovability in the direction of its axis, a second pair of rollers rotatable about axes in the plane of but at right angles to the axesof the first pair of rollers. the rollers of said second pair being adapted to bear against the side walls of the first roller of the first pair, supports for the rollers of said second pair, so

, arranged as to guide thelast mentioned rollers to contact the first roller of the first pair close to where the rollers of the first pair contact each other, and means to adjust the position of each support independently of the position of the other aid first pair of rollers.

5. In a device for rolling wire including a first pair of peripherally grooved rollers rotatable about parallel axes and peripherally tangent to each other, wherein one of. said rollers is adjustable in the direction of its axis in order to cause the roller grooves to register, the combination of bearings for said adjustable roller, with freedom of the latter to shift inaxial direction, a second pair'of rollers rotatable about axes in the plane of but at right angles to the axes of the first pair of rollers, the rollers of said second Pair bein adapted to bear against the sidewalls .of the adjustable roller of the first pair close to where the rollers of the first pair contact each other,

means'to adjust the position of the rollers of the second pair relatively to each other and in a direction parallel to the axes of the rollers of the first pair, a structure connecting said means and said bearings, and means to adjust the position of said structure relatively to the other roller of said first pair in a direction parallel to the axes of rotation of the rollers of said first pair.

- CHESTER LEROY PATTERSON. 

